Abstract
Fundamental problems are raised by the mechanical effects associated with radiation pressure fluctuations in vacuum. The instability of motions when radiation reaction is taken into account, and the existence of “runaway solutions” [1], can be avoided for mirrors by recalling that they are actually transparent to high frequencies of the field [2]. However, partially transmitting mirrors, and cavities, introduce scattering time delays which result in a temporary storage of part of the scattered vacuum fluctuations [3]. In particular, the energy related to Casimir forces [4] identifies with the energy of field fluctuations stored in the cavity [3]. This revives the questions of the contribution of vacuum fluctuations to inertia and gravitation [5], and of its consistency with the general principles of equivalence and of inertia of energy.
Unité propre du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, associée à l’Ecole Normale Supérieure et à l’Université de Paris Sud.
Unité de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure et de l’Université Pierre et Marie Curie, associée au Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.
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Jaekel, MT., Reynaud, S. (1997). Quantum Fluctuations and Inertia. In: Dowling, J.P. (eds) Electron Theory and Quantum Electrodynamics. NATO ASI Series, vol 358. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0081-4_5
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